Apparatus for breaking or forcing out the foot portions of pattern sinkers for jacquard knitting machines



[73] Assignee United States Patent 1 3,542,269

[72] Inventors Tilo Knorr [56] References Cited Karl-Marx-smdit UNITED STATES PATENTS Ingo Ziprian, Mittweida/Saxony, Germany [21] AppLNo. 736,688 [22] Filed June 13,1968 [45] Patented Nov.24, 1970 VEB Strickmaschinenbau Karl-Marx Stadt, Karl-Marx-Stadt, Germany [5 4] APPARATUS FOR BREAKING OR FORCING OUT THE FOOT PORTIONS OF PATTERN SINKERS FOR JACQUARD KNITTING MACHINES 25 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 225/97,

225/I03: 234/59, 234/l3l [5 l Int. Cl B26f 3/00 [50] Field of Search 225/97,

103, 104, 105; 77/Inq; 82/lnq; 90/lnq; 29/lnq; 90/] 1.64; 83/417, 234/59, 131

3,047,2l7 7/1962 Sheppard etal. 234/59X Primary Examiner-James M. Meister Attorney-Nolte and Nolte ABSTRACT: An apparatus for breaking out the foot portions of sinkers for use in knitting machines, with a plurality of tools movably arranged adjacent each other and a control device for moving only selected ones of the tools into operative position, which comprises a storing drum with a plurality of slots for respectively receiving the sinkers, a transport or feeding device associated with the drum for automatically successively feeding the sinkers into the range of operative movement of the tools, and a'holding device for temporarily clamping the sinkers in the apparatus.

Patented Nov, 24, 1970 Sheet INVENTORS TILO KNORR INGO ZIPRIAN Pat ented Nov. 24, 1970 3,542,269

Sheet 3 013 FIG. 3

OOOOOOOOO INVENTORS TILO KNORR INGO ZIPRIAN APPARATUS FOR rina kruc on roncnvc our THE roor ronrrousor PATTERN SINKERS ron .IACQUARD KNITTING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device or apparatus for breaking or forcing out the foot portions of a master or pattern of sinkers for jacquard knitting machines, in accordance with a certain pattern. More particularly, the invention is concerned with an apparatus of the above-identified type with a plurality of tools for breaking outthe foot portions of the sinkers, which tools are movably arranged adjacent each other and corresponding in number to the number of foot portions ofthe sinker.

Still more specifically the present invention relates to an apparatus of the just described type in which only those tools for breaking out the foot portions are brought into the operative position by a control device, theassociated foot portions ofwhich have to be broken or forced out.

2. Prior Art A known device for simultaneously breaking out or forcing out the foot portions or butts of a master or pattern sinker in accordance with'a certain pattern consists of a clamping device for the sinker, and a tiltably movable carrier with as many forcing tools as there are feet or butts on the sinker. In this arrangement the forcing tools are tiltably arranged in the carrier and can be adjusted or varied in their position by a per son operating the apparatus. In its lowermost position the forcing tool breaks out the respective foot portion from the sinker during the tilting movement of the carrier, whereas in the top position thereof the respective foot portion is not forced out but remains untouched. The adjustment or setting of the forcing tools is effected in conformity with the pattern.

The disadvantages ofthe just described apparatus for breaking or forcing out the foot portions of the master or pattern sinker consist in that each sinker has to be inserted and clamped into the clamping device of the apparatus individually by the operator and has also to be detached and removed therefrom after the operation. Moreover, the sinkers have to be inserted into the jacquard knitting machine by the operator exactly in conformity with the pattern, so that easily, mistakes can be made by not arranging the sinkers in the proper sequence or order. Furthermore. the continuous inserting, clamping. moving of th'e tools, detachment and insertion of the sinkers into the jacquard machine is-not only very tiresome for the operator and requires a lot of skill and concentration, but in addition is extremely time consuming so that the overall productivity and efficiency of the just described apparatus is very low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I apparatus ofthe general type referred to in which the machining or manufacture of the foot portions of the sinker can be automatically controlled by punch cards, tapes or the like.

Furthermore, the proper sequence of the master sinkers determined by the pattern is to be maintained while it should be easy to insert the sinkers into ajacquard knitting machine.

The apparatus according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the master sinkers are arranged in slots of a storing drum which is removably and exchangeably connected to the apparatus for forcing out the foot portions. The sinkers are. by means of a feeding device, sequentially and individually fed from the drum into the apparatus for breaking out the foot portions. In this apparatus, the sinkers are temporarily clamped in a holding or clamping device and are, after the breaking or forcing out operation has been completed, returned to their starting positions in the slots. The

transporting or feeding device for the sinkers consists of a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is the top view of an apparatus for breaking out the foot portions of a sinker;

FIG. 2 isa section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a control device for the apparatus according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in detail, the sinkers l to be produced in the apparatus are inserted into slots 2 of a storing drum'3. The drum 3 comprises as many slots 2 as are sinkers 1 associated with a system of the jacquard knitting machine. Preferably, the storing drum 3 forms the pattern drum of the jacquard machine proper. After all unprocessed sinkers I are introduced into the drum 3, the drum 3 is clamped between two guiding flanges 4 and 5 of the apparatus. The inner guiding flange 4 is adjustably mounted on a control shaft 6 by means of a clamping device. This clamping device consists of a longitudinal slot in guiding flange 4 and a screw 7 by means of which the guiding flange 4 can be fixed on the shaft 6. The other guiding flange 5, in contrast thereto, is longitudinally displaceably mounted on shaft 6 and may be pressed against drum 3 by means of a knurled nut 8. In order to provide for a definite position of drum 3, the inner guiding flange 4 comprises a guiding disc 9 while drum 3 comprises a corresponding recess 10. When inserting drum 3 prior to establishing the clamping connection, care has to be taken that the guiding disc 9 is arrested in recess 10. This arrangement has the advantage that the first slot 2 of drum 3 registers with the slot of a holding or clamping device to be described later on.

This arrangement permits a connection between the inner guiding flange and the drum so that they may rotate together, and in addition thereto, permits an exact positioning of the drum. Moreover, a definite marking to assure proper sequence of the sinkers is possible.

Drum 3 has associated therewith a step-by-step advancing mechanism by means of which it may be advanced after one sinker has been machined so that the next following sinker is brought into operative position. The step-by-step advancing mechanism comprises two latches I1 and 12 which are arranged adjacent to each other but offset with respect to each other and which act upon two advancing wheels 13 and 14. Wheels 13 and 14 are connected for rotation to shaft 6 by means of a key 15. In a manner known per se, the latches 11 and 12 are reciprocated or lifted by means of a cam drive (not shown) so that the reels 13 and 14 are advanced step-by-step. A braking disc 16 with a braking belt or band 17 and a spring 18, in combination with arresting latches 11a and 12a, prevents an unintended or accidental rotation of shaft 6.

, The sinkers 1 to be machined or treated are fed from drum 3 into the actual apparatus for forcing out the buffs by a gripper l9 and are also returned by this gripper to their respective starting positions. During this transporting or feeding movement gripper 19 grasps the guiding foot portion 20 of sinker 1. For this purpose, gripper 19 cannot only be reciprocated but also be tilted or rotated. To this end, gripper 19 is connected to a bolt 21 which is rotatably journaled in a bearing 22 and is also slightly axially movable. Bearing 22 is equipped with an abutment 22a for gripper l9 and is displaceably guided on' a straight guiding face 23. A rotating three-dimensional cam disc 24 imparts a lifting movement onto bearing 22 and thereby also upon gripper 19, through the intervention of a tiltable lever 25. A pin' 26 and a tension spring 27 are connected to lever 25. Pin 26 is continuously pressed against the rotating three-dimensional cam disc 24 by tension spring 27. Lever 25 is journaled on a bolt 28. Gripper 19 is rotatable together with bolt 21 in bearing 22 and is axially displaceable to a minor extent against the pressure of a spring 29. Bolt 21 is provided, at its free end, with a threaded portion 30 onto which a knurled nut 31 is threaded. As can be seen from the drawings, spring 29 is arranged between bearing 22 and nut 31 on bolt 21 and brings about that gripper l9 rests against bearing 22. This arrangement has the advantage that in the outer end position of gripper 19, the gripper is slightly pushed back by spring 29 so that the guiding foot portion 20 of sinker 1 will come to rest exactly in the middle of a recess 32 of gripper 19.

As will be seen from the above the actual feeding operation of sinkers 1 from drum 3 into the actual device for breaking out the foot portions of the sinkers is effected by a gripper 19 the latter having to be tilted onto the foot portion 20 of the sinker only at the beginning of the actual punching operation. Following each operational step, the drum 3 is advanced (rotated) only so much that the next following foot portion 20 comes to rest in recess 32 of gripper 19. After all sinkers l have been machined or punched or broken out, prior to removal of drum 3. gripper 19 has to be returned to its starting position. i

in order to assure a proper guiding of sinkers 1 the latter are during the actual breaking or forcing out operation by gripper 19 left partly in slot 2 of drum 3. Following the machining operation of the respective sinker 1, an unimpeded return of the sinker into the respective slot 2 of drum 3 is guaranteed.

As mentioned above, during the actual forcing out operation, the sinker l is securely held in a holding or clamping device. This holding or clamping device comprises a stationary and a movable clamping portion 33 and 34, respectively. In their open position both clamping portions 33, 34 form a slot 35 into which the sinker 1 may be introduced from the side.

The movable clamping portion 34 is movable by means of an adjustable cam drive so that the introduced sinker l is clamped during the actual machining operation. The movable clamping portion 34 is connected to a tiltable member 36 which is rotatably mounted in a bolt 37. The free end of tilting member 36 is engaged by a double lever 38 the free arm of which rests against a cam disc 39. Cam disc 39 thus determines the position of clamping portion 34 during its rotation. Double lever 38 isjournaled in a bolt 40. For purposes of adjusting the size of slot 36, the position of double-arm lever 38 may be varied, to which end a bolt 41 resting against the tilting member 36 is axially adjustable. The actual adjustment of bolt 41 is effected by a nut 42' through the intervention of a pressure spring 43. Thus. when nut 42 is threaded further into the double-arm lever 38, pressure spring 43 effects a tilting movement of the tilting member 36 in a counterclockwise direction and thereby effects a movement of the movable clamping portion 34 towards the stationary clamping portion 33.

It will be evident from the above that clamping portions 33 and 34 effect a temporary clamping of sinker 1 during the operation of the apparatus, i.e. when it breaks or forces out the foot portions. These clamping portions do not guarantee, however, the exact position of sinkers 1. For this purpose, in addition to the clamping portions 33 and 34 two abutments 44 and 45 are provided. Between these two abutments sinker 1 is, prior to each clamping operation, brought into proper alignment. Only in this way is there any guarantee that the sinker feet portions 46 are broken out all the way through to the base thereof. The slot 35 is, therefore, confined vertically by the clamping portions 33, 34 and horizontally by the abutments 44, 45. The rear abutment 44 is stationary and comprises a guiding surface 47 which during the inserting operation guides the sinker 1. into the proper clamping position. The front abutment 45 consists of two double-arm arm levers 48, 49 which grasp the sinker 1 on both sides and press the same against the stationary abutment 44. The movable abutment 45 acts upon the sinker 1 to be clamped through the intervention ofa spring 50. By means of a rotating cam disc 41, the double-arm levers 48, 49 are movable against the pressure of spring 50 out of the range of sinker 1. Cam disc 51 thus acts upon the free arms 52., 53 of double levers 48, 49.

Following the introduction, alignment and clamping of sinker l in the breaking out tool or device, the actual forcing out or punching operation commences. The tools consist of discs 55 movably arranged one next to the other. The device comprises as many discs 55 as the sinker 1 has feet 46. Each disc 55 comprises a nose portion 56 by means of which the foot portions 46 are broken out. Furthermore, each disc 55 comprises recesses 57, 58 and 59. Winding, selecting, holding and beating means enter these recesses, as will be described further below.

The winding means brings about a rotation of disc 55 while simultaneously tensioning a spring later to be described The winding means is formed by a rotating and radially adjustable cam which cooperates with the recess 59 of disc 55. Cam 60 is displaceably journaled in a recess 61 of the rotatable shaft 62. Opposite recess 61 a further recess 63 is provided in shaft 62. Both recesses 61, 63 are interconnected by means of a bore 64 in which is movably guided the shaft of a screw 65. Cam 60 is provided with a threaded bore 66 into which the screw is threaded. By turning screw 65, the effective length of cam 60 is varied in a very simple manner. During each revolution of shaft 62, cam 60 extends into the recess 59 of disc 55 and rotates the same about its axis 67. Simultaneously the nose portion 56 is rotated out of the range of slot 35. Furthermore, recess 57 is moved underneath the selecting device to be described further below and the beating tool is tensioned. The selecting means is formed by a controllable magnet 68 the core 69 ofwhich cooperates respectively with a recess 57 ofa disc 55.

The beating means are formed by leaf springs 70 which are fixedly journaled in the machine frame 71 and which extend with their free ends into the recess 58 of disc 55. Leaf springs 70 are held between two clamping portions 72, 73 by means of screws 74, 75. An abutment 76 limits the deflection of the leaf springs 70. These springs are deflected by rotation of disc 55. When the disc is rotated in counterclockwise direction, the leaf springs do no longer abut against the edge 77 but against the arcuate edge 78. in this way it is possible that a holding means holds the tensioned disc 55 against the edge 77. The holding means proper comprises a T-shaped lever 80 which is tiltable in a bolt 79. T-shaped lever 80 is continuously held against a rotating cam disc 83 with its free arm 81 by a spring 82. The other free arm 84 of the T-shaped lever 80 is adapted to engage the recess 58 after a completed rotation of disc 55. The free arm 84 abuts during this movement against edge 77 and holds the rotated disc 55 until the spring 82 is able to press the arm 81 into a recess of cam disc 83.

Prior to the introduction of the sinker 1 into the forcing out or breaking out device, the disc 55 is rotated by the cam 60 in counterclockwise direction. During this movement simultaneously the leaf springs 70 are tensioned and the T-shaped lever 80 arrests the disc 55 in this position. Now the sinker 1 is introduced into the slot 35, is aligned and clamped. By means of a punched tape (not shown), or by a key board the electromagnets 68 are energized dependent on the pattern drawing. Those electromagnets 68 the associated discs 55 of which are supposed to break out a foot portion 45 of sinker l are energized and thereby the core 69 is retracted. As a result thereof upon subsequent release of the discs 55 by the T- shaped lever 80 those leaf springs 70 can relax the respective electromagnet 68 of which has a retracted core. During the relaxing or detensioning process the released discs 55 are rotated in clockwise direction and the nose portions 56 break out the respective foot portions 45 pertaining thereto. All

pendency and are made nonenergized electromagnets 68 maintain their cores in the recess 57 so that the discs 55 are not rotated. This arrangement yields the advantage that only those discs 55 take part in the operating movement the sinker foot portions 45 of which are to be forced out.

Following the machining of all sinkers 1 in the storing drum 3, the drum is either directly inserted into the jacquard knitting machine as the master or pattern drum or the storing drum is placed upon the master drum of the machine and all sinkers l are simultaneously pushed from the drum 3 into the master drum. During this transfer operation, care has to be taken that the first sinker slides into the slot of the master drum provided for it. The small guiding plate 9 marks the position ofthe first sinker.

lt is to be kept in mind that all elements operate in interdeeffective in a predetermined order. This cooperation is effected by gear transmissions or other mechanical or electrical mechanisms.

The breaking out device according to the present invention is not only more efficient than heretofore such devices of the general type involved but also considerably decreases the amount of manual labor required, and guarantees the proper sequence of the sinkers introduced finally into the jacquard knitting machine.

FIG. 3 illustrates a control device for use in connection with the apparatus according to FIGS. 1 and 2. This control device is well known in the art and controls magnets 68(The pattern is stored in a punched tape 100. By means of a known punched tape-reading device 101, such as contact brushes, the punched tape is read in a stepwise manner. The punched tape itself forms an insulator. if this insulator is interrupted by a hole in the punched tape, the contact between the respective brush 102 and contact roller 103, which is arranged below the tape is closed. Via conductors 104 relays, and the brushes, magnet 68 is energized with a voltage of for instance 24 volts, and core 69 which is provided with a lock slide, is removed from recess 57 of the respective disc released.

The drive for the apparatus for breaking out the foot portions includes a sprocket wheel 90 which is driven by a motor 93 through the intervention of a sprocket wheel 92 and a chain 91. Sprocket wheel 90 drives shaft 62. As shown in FIG. 2, shafts 62, 89 and 85 have mounted thereon gears indicated in dot-dash lines 86, 87 and 88 respectively, which synchronize the movements of shafts 62, 89 and 85. These shafts control all mechanical movements of the apparatus.

While one specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above the invention is not to be considered limited thereto, but encompasses any modifications embraced by the attached claims.

We claim: I

1. An apparatus for breaking out the foot portions of sinkers arranged one nest to the other and a control device for moving only selected ones of said tools into operative position, which comprises: a storing drum with a plurality of slots for respectively receiving the sinkers, a transport device associated with said drum for automatically successively feeding the sinkers into the range of movement of said tools, and holding means for clamping said sinkers temporarily in said apparatus.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, which includes means connected to said apparatus for returning the sinkers to said drum after the foot portions of the sinkers have been broken out.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transport device comprises a cam drive, and a gripper reciprocable' by said drive and having a recess for temporarily grasping the foot portions of the sinkers. t

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes two guiding flanges and said storing drum is exchangeably and clampingly journaled between said guiding flanges.

55, which is thereby for use in knitting machines, with a plurality of tools movably 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storing drum is formed by the pattern drum of a jacquard knitting machine.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said guiding flanges include an inner and an outer guiding flange, and wherein said apparatusincludes an advancing shaft, said inner guiding flange being adjustably and clampingly connected to said shaft.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said inner guiding flange includes a relatively small guiding plate, and wherein said storing drum is provided with 'a recess for cooperation with said recess.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cam drive includes a step-by-step advancing mechanism for advancing said storing drum following each breaking out operation to such extent that the gripper may grasp the next following sinker and insert the same into the slot of said holding means.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cam drive includes means tiltably supporting said gripper. and straight guiding means for displaceably supporting said gripper.

10. An apparatus according to claim 3, which includes means for moving the gripper together with the foot portion of the respective sinker out of said holding device during the actual breaking out operation while maintaining a portion of the sinker in the slot of said storing drum.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding device includes a stationary and a movable clamping portion, said clamping portions being adapted to receive therebetween a sinker in their open position and to clamp the same temporarily during the breaking out operation.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, which includes an adjustable cam drive for controlling the movement of said movable clamping portion.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, which includes a stationary abutment with a guiding surface and a movable abutment for respectively confining the gap between said clamping portions at the rear and front.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said movable abutment is formed by two double-arm levers adapted to press a sinker against said stationary abutment.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, which includes a rotatable spring-biased cam disc for moving said movable abutment with said double-arm levers away from said clamping portions.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tools comprise a plurality of adjacent tiltable discs.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of said discs comprises a nose portion and three recesses, and winding, selecting, holding and beating means for engagement with said recesses. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said winding means comprises a rotating and radially adjustable cam adapted to advance the respective disc upon engagement with one of said recesses.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said selecting means is formed by an electromagnet which is controllable and the armature of which is adapted to cooperate with one of said recesses in said discs. 7

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said beating means is formed by leaf springs fixedly journaled in said apparatus and adapted to engage one of said recesses in said discs with their free ends.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said holding means comprises a T-shaped lever, a spring, and a cam disc for moving said T-shaped lever into one of said recesses in said discs against the force of said spring.

22. An apparatus according to claim 1, which includes electrical transmission means for controlling the movements of elements elements of said apparatus.

23. An apparatus according to claim 1, which includes mechanical transmission means for controlling the movements of all elements of said apparatus.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, which includes a guiding flange with a relatively small guiding plate for insertion into said indicating recess of said drum. 

